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Morrissey and the Russian Sailor

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Colm O Lochlainn: More Irish Street Ballads

Seán ’ac Dhonnchadha (Johnny McDonagh) sang Morrissey and the Russian Sailor on the 1955 anthology Columbia World Library of Folk and Primitive Music - Volume I: Ireland.

Ewan MacColl sang Morrissey and the Russian Sailor on his and A.L. Lloyd’s 1958 Riverside album of British songs of sporting and gambling, Champions and Sporting Blades. This track was also included in 1962 on their Topic EP Gamblers and Sporting Blades, and in 1998 on their and Roy Harris’ Topic compilation CD, Gamblers and Sporting Blades, in 2003 on MacColl’s Highpoint compilation The Definitive Collection, and in 2018 on his Topic anthology An Introduction to Ewan MacColl. A.L. Lloyd noted on the Riverside album:

John Morrissey was born in Ireland on 5 February 1831. In 1852, he made his debut as a fighter at Mare Island, California, when he beat George Thompson in the 11^th round, for a purse of $2000 a side. In the following year he beat James Yankee Sullivan in 37 rounds, and in 1858 he fought and won his greatest battle against John C. Heenan, the Benicia Boy, at Long Point, Canada. Later he became the owner of several gambling establishments and under Tammany patronage was twice elected to Congress. He lost his fortune through ill-advised speculation in Vanderbilt railroad stock. This much, history tells us. On the matter of the epic fight with the Russian sailor in far-off Tierra del Fuego. the factual accounts are missing. The voice of legend is eloquent, however, and the ballad of John Morrissey’s mythical battle still warms the hearts of West of Ireland villagers, when they’ve gathered round the turf fire for an evening’s distraction. This version comes from Carna, County Galway.

Joe Heaney sang Morrissey and the Russian Sailor in a 1960 studio recording from London on the 1998 Topic anthology of local events and national issues, A Story I’m Just About to Tell (The Voice of the People Volume 8). He also sang it in a recording made by Ralph Rinzler and Barry Murphy at either The King’s Arms or The Bedford Arms in London on the 1965 Folkways album Irish Music in London Pubs. Ralph Rinzler noted:

This is the ballad of a boxing match between a Russian Sailor and John Morrissey from Templemore in County Tipperary. In the annals of boxing it is on record that he fought and conquered Thompson, the Yankee Clipper, and the Buffalo Boy among others, but there is no record of Morrissey having boxed with a Russian sailor. We have investigated history to no avail, yet this song exists among the people of the west of Ireland.

Just as others do on the same theme for instance when Donnelly fought Cooper on the Curragh of Kildare all notable events were sung by bards and ballad makers in the years gone by giving down to us their detailed history, yet the battle of John Morrissey and the Russian Sailor cannot be confirmed in the official records of the noble art.

Frank Harte sang Morrissey and the Russian Sailor in 1975 on his RAM album And Listen to My Song. He noted:

Johnny Morrissey was born in Templemore, Co. Tipperary on 5 February 1831, he came to prominence as a professional boxer when he beat George Thompson in the eleventh round at Mare Island, California in 1852 and for this victory he received a purse of £2000. In 1853 he beat James Sullivan known as “The Yankee Clipper”, the fight lasting thirty seven rounds. He won one of his greatest fights when he defeated John C. Heenan the “Benica Boy” at Long Point in Canada. All of these fights plus one other are mentioned in the last verse of the song:

Our hero conquered Thompson and the Yankee Clipper too,
The Benica Boy and Shepherd he nobly did subdue.

Johnny Morrissey eventually went on to establish several gambling houses in America and was elected to Congress on two occasions. I have always liked this song on account of the great story it tells of the fight, its direct Come All Ye style and the completely biased attitude of the author on the side of Johnny Morrissey.

Tim Laycock sang Morrissey and the Russian Sailor in 1980 on his Greenwich Village album Capers & Rhymes. He noted:

Morrissey and the Russian Sailor was learnt from the singing of Joe Heaney. Johnny Morrissey was born in Templemore, Tipperary, in 1831. He moved to New York, and became a professional boxer, winning the championship in 1860. In later life he was twice elected to Congress!

Lyrics

Joe Heaney sings Morrissey and the Russian Sailor

Come all you gallant Irishmen whereever that you be,
I hoped you’ll pay attention and listen unto me
Till I tell about a battle that took place the other day
Atween a Russian sailor and gallant Morrissey.

’Twas in Terriofuage in South Amerixa
The Russian challenged Morrissey; those words to him did say:
“I hear you are a fighting man and wear a belt, I see.
Indeed I wish you will consent to have a round with me.”

And up spoke brave Morrissey with heart both brave and true,
“I am a valiant Irishman that never was subdued,
For I can wield the Yankee, Saxon, Bull and Bear.
In honour of old Paddy’s land the laurel I’ll maintain.”

And to fight upon the tenth of March those heroes did agree,
And thousands came from every place this battle for to see.
O sixty thousand dollars, as you may plainly see,

They shook hands and walked around the ring, commencing for to fight.
It’d fill each Irish heart there for to behold the sight
The Russian he fought Morrissey unto the eleventh round
With the Russian, Yankee, Saxon cheers the valley did resound.

The Irish they laid four to one that day upon the grass
No sooner done than taken up and down they brought the cash
They parried away without delay till the twenty-second round
When Morrissey received a blow that brought him to the ground.

For a minute and a half our hero lay before that he could rise.
The word wnt right around the ring, “He’s dead!” were all their cries.
But Morrissey proved manfully and rising from the groud,
From the until the thirtieth round the Russion he put down.

This thirty-eighth decided and the Russian felt it smart,
And Morrissey with a terrible blow struck the Russian on the heart.
The doctor he was called upon to open up a vein,
He said it was quite useless; he’d never fight again.

Our hero conquered Thompson and the Yankee Clipper, too,
The Buffalo Boy and Shepherd he nobly did subdue.
So drink ye up a flowing glass and here is heath galore
To noble Johnny Morrissey and Paddy ever more.

Frank Harte sings Morrissey and the Russian Sailor

Come all you gallant Irishmen, wherever you may be
And I hope you’ll pay attention and listen unto me
I will sing about a battle that took place the other day
Between a Russian sailor and Johnny Morrissey

’Twas in Tierra Del Fuego in South America
The Russian challenged Morrissey and these words to him did say
“I hear you are a fighting man and wear a belt I see
Indeed I wish you would consent to have a round with me.”

Then up spoke Johnny Morrissey with heart both brave and true
“I am a valiant Irishman who never was subdued
’Tis I can wail the Yankee, the Saxon, Bull and Bear
In honour of old Paddy’s land, I’ll still the laurels wear.”

Those words enraged the Russian boy upon the Yankee land
For to think that he should be put down by any Irishman
Said he, “You are too light a frame and that without mistake
I will have you to resign the belt or else your life I’ll take.”

For to fight upon the tenth of March those heroes did agree
And the thousands came from every part, the battle for to see
The English and the Russians, their hearts were filled with glee
They swore this Russian sailor boy would kill brave Morrissey

Well, those heroes stepped into the ring, most gallant to be seen
And Morrissey put on the belt, bound round with shamrocks green
Full sixty-thousand dollars as you may plainly see
Was to be the champion’s prize for him who’d gain the victory

They shook hands and walked around the ring commencing then to fight
And it filled each Irish heart with cheer for to behold the sight
The Russian he floored Morrissey up to the eleventh round
With Yankee, Russian, Saxon cheer the valley did resound

For a minute and a half he lay before that he could rise
And the word went all around the field. “He is dead,” were all them cries
But Morrissey worked manfully and rising from the ground
From that up to the twentieth the Russian he put down

Well, the Irish offered four to one that day upon the grass
And no sooner said than taken up and down they brought the cash
They parried away without delay to the thirty-second round
When Morrissey received a blow which brought him to the ground

Up to the thirty-seventh round it was fall and fall about
Which made the foreign tyrant to keep a sharp look out
The Russian called his seconds in for to have a glass of wine
Our Irish hero smiled and said this battle will be mine

The thirty-eighth round decided all, the Russian felt as smart
When Morrissey with a dreadful blow struck the Russian on the heart
The doctor, he was called in for to open up a vein
Her says, “It is quite useless, he’ll never fight again.”

Our hero conquered Thompson, and the Yankee clipper too
The Benica boy and Shepherd he nobly did subdue
So let us fill a flowing bowl and drink a health galore
To noble Johnny Morrissey who came from Templemore